In my opinion a hyperbole is only funny when it's absolutely impossible, not when it's somewhat doable ( note, people paint on rice ). I also don't like it when it's contextually completely random, there is no connection to any writing situation at all.

Nope. A hyperbole that is at least possible at a chance of 1:1000.000 is much stronger then a hyperbole that is simply not possible. In most cases it's totally flat and intelligence-offending. Does anyone know the terrible Opel commercial with the car riding a wave like a surfer? That's pretty much the perfect example.

That example is just plain retarded, it's not a feature being showed off through a hyperbole. Unless you're meant to surf with it. It's just stupid. A hyperbole of the main product proposition is the very bedrock of print advertising and may I point out very, very few are actually possible. You also seem to think that a chance of 1:1000.000 is what you'd call 'somewhat doable'. I'd call that close to impossible, not as I said somewhat doable.

Man, you just don't get it. Every bad hyperbole is like a flat, flat joke that will make people think "Very funny, you dick-head ad-people. Next."

Look at this example. Not that it is the world's most brilliant ad, but the hyperbole is still physically possible. NO fucking hoover will ever bring the moon down to earth, BUT maybe, just maybe these knives are so sharp that the fly got cut in two while landing on it. You trust more into a product, when a hyperbole isn't totally out of the world.

I quote: Man, you just don't get it. Every bad hyperbole is like a flat, flat joke that will make people think "Very funny, you dick-head ad-people. Next."

Has it ever crossed your mind that you are on a site for, as you so cleverly worded, 'dick-head ad-people'? And you also have a hard time seperating your own personal opinion on what is a good hyperbole and what isn't, with fact. May I also direct you to a quite impossible hyperbole which succeeded in being a good one, for coincidently the same product:

Consider this: the above was selected as Finalist at World Press Awards and shortlisted at Clio Awards 2007. So I believe I just put a hole through your misconception that impossible hyperboles don't win any awards. May I keep presuming that you hardly read any annuals?

Allow me to present the last word on use of hyperbole and exaggeration (is there a diff?) in advertising:

It works fine if it's done tongue-in-cheek.

(As opposed to that Opel surfing-the-waves commercial, which I haven't seen but sure sounds like it wasn't.)

It's not rocket science. Someone sees this ad, they smile, they turn the page, but they get the message - this is a fine point pen. They're not supposed to really believe you can tattoo a beetle with it.

@ Kris: The ad with the molecule works, because the knife could actually cut a molecule. And what we see is not a "real" molecule, it's just a plastic-figure, what gives this ad more of a symbolic character. However, you won't get it...

Finally, I like this ad with the beetle. It's a nice hyperbole, not overdone and well executed.

How is something written with a pilot, a tattoo? If it was meant a tattoo in the first place, why on a bug. And you're probably the first to recognize that as a tattoo, as I just see a doodle on something small to emphesize it having a very fine point.

just have a look at the larger version, to me it looks like a burning heart, wrapped with barbwire and a cross or something (and a burning skull on the lady bug's "shoulder"). it's a typical tattoo motif so i guess the association's intended.
i was wondering if the product was also some kind of special strong ink pen. otherwise, the whole tattoo thing doesn't really make sense and they might as well have written something on the bug.

i guess that not many people would get this, flipping through a magazine...

Funny at first sight, but...
Why would a beetle get a tatoo? There must be a point in the exaggeration beyond the 'because it looks cool' thing.

I mean, if you find something useful -read meaningful- for the pico-point-pen the ad will be stronger, like making chops (chops is the name we give to that little notes with summaries that you bring hidden to cheat on tests)or something where the qualities of the product are the ideal solution, you know.